Adriano Belisario combines expertise in communication and data to address important human rights concerns. Belisario is currently part of the Joint Data Center on Forced Displacement, a collaboration between the World Bank and UNHCR. Before this role, he contributed to organizations like Open Knowledge Brazil, Witness, Medialab/UFRJ, Forensic Architecture UNESCO, Agência Pública and The Intercept Brasil. His publication portfolio includes books, academic articles, and journalistic pieces in Portuguese and English, and he has been invited to speak at several global events.

Belisario taught data journalism in Brazilian postgraduate courses and holds an MSc in Social Data Science from the Oxford Internet Institute (University of Oxford). While there, he collaborated with Instituto Fogo Cruzado to develop a language model that uses social media data to identify gun violence reports in real time. He also earned an MA in Communication and Culture from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). In partnership with Medialab/UFRJ and Agência Autônoma, Belisario co-developed Documental.xyz, an initiative that combines diverse investigative methods, such as Natural Language Processing, OSINT, and forensic architecture, with storytelling to equip grassroots communities with compelling evidence related to human rights violations.

Awards and recognitions

Bellingcat’s technical writing fellowship (2024)

Finalist in the category “Social Action” at the Study UK Alumni Award (2024)

Shortlisted at the Gabo Awards (2021)

Winner of the Jornalismo-Mosca Award (2021)

Ling Institute’s Visionary Journalist Scholarship (2020)

Education

Master of Science in Social Data Science (with distinction). Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford. 2022-2023.

Post-baccalaureate certification (with honors). Lede Program. Columbia University of the City of New York. 2021

Masters of Arts in Communication and Culture. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. 2016.

Bachelor in Social Communication (Journalism). Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. 2010.

Philosophy (unfinished). State University of Rio de Janeiro. 2005-2008.

Professional experience

Joint Data Center on Forced Displacement. Data journalist. 2023 - Present.

Medialab/UFRJ. Associate Researcher. 2017 - 2022

School of Data Brazil. Program Manager. 2018 - 2022

WITNESS. Consultant. 2018-2019

UNESCO. Consultant. 2016-2018

Cinema Nosso. Program manager. 2015-2017.

Agência Pública. Editor and reporter. 2014-2018

Instituto Mais Democracia. Content Manager. 2012-2013.

Government of the State of Rio de Janeiro - Secretary of Culture. Digital Culture Manager. 2010-2012.

Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Pontão da ECO). Program manager. 2009-2012.

Revista de História da Biblioteca Nacional. Reporter and editor. 2008-2010.

Curta-o-curta. Editor and content producer. 2006-2007.

Courses

2021, online. Mathematics for machine learning specialization. Imperial College London.

2020, São Paulo. Survey design and analysis. International Political Science Association/USP Summer School.

2017, Rio de Janeiro. Reporting Land Rights. Thomsom Reuters Foundation